D-Day...

Well, it's here. Still a few loose ends to tie up, but nothing major. My bags are packed, sitting ready to go next to the door. I had a moment earlier while showering (...why is it that you always have these great ideas when you are no where near ready to write them down?) about the entire process it's taken for me to get to this point. There have been countless checklists, probably 100 post it notes, a dozen shopping trips, and hours of mentally preparing for 32 hours of flying time. It's crazy to think that departure is just over 12 hours away. I am about as ready as I'll ever be.

I arrive in Kilimanjaro at about 1pm local time, which will be around 3am Sunday (PDT) after flying through Washington, D.C. and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Total travel - 32 hours and over 10,000 miles. About the furthest from home I think I'll ever have been. Not sure what the rest of Sunday will hold, but my friend Anna says I probably won't be to my home stay until later that evening.

Monday is orientation day, shopping, some Swahili lessons and meeting the other volunteers. Tuesday is my first day at Hillcrest... :) 

Down to the wire...

Well, here we are... just about 24 hrs from departure to Arusha. Almost every thing that can be done to prepare has been done and now it's just to sit back and begin the journey. The nerves have started to calm down, the fears have been allayed, and now it's just realization that I am on my way to Africa that is setting in.
I have thought a lot about my day to day life and the creature comforts I am going to miss... my morning coffee, being able to walk to the corner and grab a wide variety of food, dinner/TV/cuddles with Brian... But I have also thought a lot about the differences in cultures and ways of life that I am going to get to experience. It is not often that you can complete immerse yourself in the culture of another country like I am going to be able to.
Of all the things that I know I will see, I am perhaps most intrigued and excited about getting to see some of the Masai culture. I remember when I was a young elementary school kid there was a classmate of mine who's parents went to Kenya and worked with the Peace Corp and the Masai. They came to our school and showed us pictures and artifacts from their time in Kenya and now, 25 yrs later, I am going to get to see of this stuff for myself. Such an awesome and powerful feeling to know that this has come full circle from when I was a boy.

Also, I want to take this time to personally, and publicly, thank each and everyone who has helped sponsor me and this trip of a lifetime. There are far to many for me to list out, but you know who you are, and you have my deepest, most heart felt appreciation. This experience would never have been possible without you.

It's almost that time...

Well, here we are... 2 days until departure day. I am still in shock and awe as to what is about to happen to me with this trip. I know that I can't place too much expectation on what is to come, but I can say that I know that this will be a momentous trip for me. 
I have found out that I am working with 60 children at the Hillcrest School in the Sakina District. The state of the school from what I can tell is that is it growing and expanding, with work being done to build a new school. The school is fairly successful and well run. The director of the school is Isaac and I have heard nothing but praises about him.
I will be staying in a home stay, instead of the volunteer houses, and I am actually really excited about this development. It is excited to think about being immersed in the Tanzanian culture. There will be 6 other volunteers in that home stay and it's a bit further out.
Running a few last minute errands, completing pre-flight checklists and finishing up packing my bags...

3 weeks to go...

22 days before d-day - 

Nervous. Anxious. Excited. Humbled. Thankful. Joyous. Curious. 

Just a few of the many emotions, feelings, thoughts I've been having today. 

I am just about 3 weeks out from my departure date and I am starting to get ready to go. I have started to think about what I am going to be taking with me. One of the coolest things that I will be taking is the generous donation of beginning readers from the Kindergarten class that I volunteered with this year. This books will be invaluable! A big shout out to Room 111 from Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy! 

I got checklists made, post it notes with to do items everywhere and piles of stuff scattered around my room. I have to say that I am feeling like things are generally in order and it's a waiting game until we get a little closer to d-day. 

Now I'm shifting my focus to what I am taking with me and what I can buy there for the students... I've been told that balloons are in huge demand! 

The Beginnings

Where, oh where, to start... 

This summer, from June 28th through August 3rd, 2013, I will be spending my summer in the beautiful east African country of Tanzania. Specifically, I will be in the city of Arusha, in northern Tanzania near Mt. Kilimanjaro. I am going there to teach English and work with children who've been orphaned by the AIDS epidemic. What exactly my role and responsibilities will be I have yet to find out, but I know that whatever they are I am going to learn so much from this experience. 

Many of you may wonder why it is that I am choosing to do this. Well, let me tell you a little bit about my life so that you can understand my motivations. I know the feeling of loss all too well. When I was just a babe my mother passed away in a tragic car accident. I grew up in a single parent family where my father worked hard day and night to provide for me and my siblings. However, no matter how hard he worked, it never seemed to be enough. We were always short on money, and sacrifices had to be made. We visited the local food bank as often as we were allowed, relied heavily on government assistance, and the charity of others. These experiences as a child taught me all to well that there is no greater deed in this world than to give back to those who need it the most. That is what I am trying to do with this trip to Tanzania this summer, give back to those less fortunate that me. 

The rush of adrenaline, of excitement, of nervousness, of doubt, about what I am doing is still pulsing through me. I found out just over a week ago that I got accepted into the program and I am so thrilled at this opportunity. I think that this is going to be one of the "game changers" that will completely change me. What has been the most astounding is response that I've gotten with regards to this trip. I started a fundraising page to help cover the costs of this trip, and within a week I hit my initial goal. I couldn't be more humbled by the outpouring of support. If there is one thing I hope that people know, is how truly thankful I am by their support. I couldn't do this without the support of my community!